Shoulder Bursitis

Shoulder bursitis is a very common condition where there is inflammation impacting on the bursa of the shoulder. This can cause limited range of movement, very sharp pain when lifting or rotating the arm, difficulty in sleeping or finding a comfortable position, numbness or tingling in the arm and hand. The bursa allows the tendons and bones to glide on one another freely in amongst the shoulder. When it is affected by overuse or an injury fluid can build up around the bursa causing bursitis.

Bursitis can be acute or chronic. Acute bursitis comes on very rapidly sometimes without any major cause and can be very painful and debilitating. Chronic bursitis can develop over time or be a recurring issue that can be harder to treat and be impacted by other factors involving the shoulder. Other conditions that may also impact the shoulder are arthritis, tendonitis, frozen shoulder, bone spurs or shoulder impingement syndrome.

Diagnosis of shoulder bursitis is important to help distinguish from the other conditions that may be causing pain in the shoulder, the most common way to diagnose bursitis is through either an ultrasound or an MRI. An ultrasound is normally the easiest and most cost effective. The most commonly recommended treatments for bursitis is rest, occasionally you can get the fluid drained or some GPs will recommend a cortisone injection however, these treatments are not solving the issue or why your body is producing the fluid and inflammation causing pain and bursitis in the shoulder.

In Chinese Medicine, we use Acupuncture to help resolve pain, remove inflammation and improve range of movement. Acupuncture can be a very effective treatment of shoulder bursitis and there have been a number of studies that show the reduction of pain and increased movement after a series of acupuncture treatments. Through acupuncture, we are trying to get the body to naturally remove the inflammation that is present in the bursa by activating the nervous system and the immune systems. Acupuncture helps relax these systems and turn off pain pathways so that the body can start to heal itself to return to a pain free and normal lifestyle.

Bursitis can be persistent and may take a number of treatments to produce results; however, when you are speaking to your Chinese Medicine doctor, they will discuss with you their expectations on your condition and how many treatments it may take in their experience. Everyone's treatment plans vary and everyone’s response to acupuncture is different. Whilst there can be some great results with acupuncture, there are a number of different techniques Chinese Medicine has to offer for long term results regarding shoulder bursitis and shoulder pain. It is always best to speak to a licensed acupuncturist about how they can help you get back a pain free life.

Dr. Nicholas Watson - Craigieburn Acupuncture